Colin Hill, 32

Aims to more than double human trials success rate by virtually prescreening drugs in computer models of human cells.

Cofounder and CEO, Gene Network Sciences

Four out of five drugs fail in human trials. But Colin Hill says that at his Ithaca, NY, startup, "We think we are the answer." The physicist turned entrepreneur aims to more than double human trials success rate by virtually prescreening drugs in computer models of human cells. His company uses these "virtual cells" to uncover how the compounds work and predict which ones will fare best in human tests. Drugmakers share his enthusiasm: his company has deals with two of the top five drug firms.